Grant awarded to Perspectiva to fund a podcast series that explores the ideas and policy implications of Iain McGilchrist’s seminal work The Matter with Things: Our Brains, Our Delusions, and the Unmaking of the World. In a series of curated discussions with neuro-scientists, philosophers, psychologists and social scientists, the podcast will explore the real-world relevance and implications of Iain’s thesis, which The Guardian named as one of the top ten books about human consciousness.

Iain McGilchrist is an experienced psychiatrist, neuroscientist and established philosopher who brings together a deep knowledge of neuroscience, sociology, anthropology, history, literature, music and the arts to show – some would say incontrovertibly prove – how the changing relationship between our brains’ right and left hemispheres is leading humanity on a potential path of self-destruction. His 2009 book The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World shook up the world of neuroscience and started an urgent debate among thinkers of all disciplines on how our changing brain structure might explain much of what is wrong with today’s politics, economics and society, and what might be done about it.

Perspectiva, founded in 2016, is made up of a community of scholars, artists, activists and thinkers working on ‘an urgent one-hundred-year project’ to improve the relationships between systems, souls and society in theory and practice. As a registered charity funded by grants from trusts and foundations, Perspectiva develops an applied philosophy of education to the subject of relationships between complex global challenges and the inner lives of human beings through its publications, hosting the Realisation Festival in collaboration with St Giles House, the development of an ‘antidebate’ methodology and the growth of the European Emerge network.

Inspiration Inc’s grant help will fund the design and launch of the podcast series to expand the reach of Iain’s critical analysis of the human condition and to foster a wider understanding of its implications for society.

Grant awarded to fund an artist-in-residence program hosted by the Mafalala Museum in Maputo, Mozambique, under the guidance of local non-profit IVERCA Association.

Currently, if an African artist wants to expand their creativity across borders in pursuit of international exchange and recognition, they must go to Europe first (typically a London/Paris exchange). There is a lack of cross-border artist-in-residence programmes within Africa, specifically designed for the region. With Inspiration Inc’s grant, the Mafalala Museum will enable African artistic exchanges in order to foster new creative narratives that are geographically authentic and reflect the collaboration of artists who currently live next door to one another.

Two residencies will be offered per year to African artists. As part of the exchange, artists will be asked to support the ongoing educational programmes offered by the Museum’s new art school for young people in the Mafalala neighborhood of Maputo. Mafalala and its surrounding areas were originally built on the ‘outside’ of Maputo’s beltway road to house immigrant labour from all over Africa during the Portuguese colonial period. In its twin roles as the economic engine of Maputo and the centre for opposition to colonial rule, Mafalala became a powerful cultural melting pot that launched the careers of writers, artists, resistance fighters, politicians and sports stars, ultimately helping to define Mozambique’s identity as an independent nation.

Over time, we hope to see this program grow to become a much sought-after residency program with international recognition, building confidence in regional art and artists, whilst providing fuel for the development of creative education in Mozambique.

Grant awarded to fund the extension of a pilot programme that uses craftsmanship and conservation as tools for healing, led by The Fathom Trust. The initiative, “Making Well: Health and Healing Through Green Crafts,” brings together landowners, local artisans and healthcare services to deliver community-based rehabilitation. By learning to reflect on the purposeful use of their hands, individual users of mental health services gain a renewed sense of who they are, what they might become, and develop an awareness of the natural world, which in turn brings respect for themselves and others.

Neurobiological studies demonstrate the link between bodily awareness and emotion regulation. Both traditional craft-making and conservation require bodily engagement and mental focus and can be transformative for those suffering mental illness.

The Fathom Trust is an innovator in the provision of alternative mental health services. It has completed the first stage of a six-month social prescribing pilot project, funded by Accelerate and in partnership with the NHS Powys Teaching Health Board, Cardiff University, Bangor University’s Social Value Hub, Mind, the Brecon Beacons National Park and the local community.

Inspiration Inc’s grant is enabling the Fathom Trust to raise funds to extend the pilot into a year-long programme.

Grant awarded to support the development of a permanent West London base for Kindred Studios, a creative community of artists and makers, mentors and educators, across a wide range of visual art forms. Building on the success of their temporary venues, serving over 280 artists to date, Kindred Studios now has the opportunity to become the creative hub for the rapidly changing areas between Shepherds Bush, Hammersmith and Acton.

Kindred occupied its first home in Notting Hill in 2015, two years later moving to Maida Hill and expanding quickly to include 175 artists and makers, harbouring creativity in the neighbourhood and sharing the incredible talent that had previously laid seemingly dormant in West London. In 2019, Kindred moved into another temporary disused space, taking over a complex of flats and offices awaiting redevelopment near Shepherd’s Bush. Now, with the cooperation of Hammersmith and Fulham City Council, Kindred has been offered the opportunity to establish a permanent home in a large building and set of railway arches known as the Ravenscourt Stores.

Offering far more than affordable space in which to create, the studios nurture a culture of collaboration, teaching and learning, enabling individuals to thrive professionally conscious of the collective whole. Artist members work extensively with schools and colleges providing outreach and mentorship for young people.

Inspiration Inc’s grant is enabling Kindred to raise the funds for the adaptation of their new space.

Grant awarded to support the development of a pilot education project and the construction of the first biomimetic classroom, Aula Naturaleza, where pupils and educators learn how to live sustainably, and to teach sustainability, in the rural Buenos Aires province of Argentina. The project expands on the work of environmental NGO Amartya, through their wider ecology-oriented educational programmes at Quinta Esencia. Since 2005, Amartya has promoted a culture of sustainability, working to stimulate systemic change within civil society and across the public and private sectors.

In today’s changing environmental climate, society needs eco-innovation and a focus on sustainability more than ever. Social movements are one way to promote environmentalism, but teaching people how to live sustainably is more impactful. Amartya’s approach is to push beyond the teaching of theoretical environmental science by designing programmes delivered in its living sustainability laboratory, where children and increasingly teachers can learn what sustainability means by building, planting, living sustainably on the land. Aula Naturaleza’s environmental education equips students to navigate a changing environment with the proper knowledge of self-sufficiency, science and conservation.

Inspiration Inc’s grant is contributing to the construction of a new learning space at Quinta Esencia to be used to extend the teaching of sustainable living to communities and schools across Argentina.

Ancient Forest Guardians (AFG) is an initiative dedicated to the conservation of underfunded and vulnerable primary growth forests of significant natural heritage. It currently supports three forests in the Central African Republic and southern Bolivia with a holistic approach, addressing issues of biodiversity, forest regeneration, wildlife protection, carbon sequestration and the empowerment of indigenous communities, which are all interconnected.

Inspiration Inc partners with AFG to protect those virgin forests that are currently most vulnerable and underfunded. AFG focuses on developing innovative sustainable projects together with local communities and/or organisations. These projects are then provided with seed funding from Inspiration Incubator and additional complimentary financing to support projects is raised through individualised fund-raising campaigns. Those interested in joining the forest family can start growing wild by contributing directly here.

Grant awarded to support the Ba’aka Community Ranger Programme within the Dzanga-Sangha Special Concession in partnership with Sangha Lodge. The concession lies in the extreme southwest of the Central African Republic, bordering Cameroon to the southwest and Republic of Congo to the southeast, and consists of just under 180,000 acres of tropical moist forest, housing a large density of lowland gorillas, pangolins and forest elephants among many other unique species.

The Ba’aka community live and depend on the use of the forest through subsistence hunting and gathering. The Community Ranger programme provides specialised training and coordination of teams of Ba’aka unarmed rangers so that they can reduce snaring and unlawful hunting of endangered animals across the concession area. These trainees will also learn to report back on illegal logging or hunting activities within the boundaries of the concession area. This information will then be sent on to the World Wildlife Fund, WWF.

The onslaught of wildlife crime and illegal trade of wildlife products is resulting in significant declines in the populations of many species across the globe. The levels of poaching of elephants and pangolins in this region of Africa are particularly high and anti-poaching training needs to be effective so that protected area authorities and rangers can better safeguard wildlife from this grave threat. Community rangers play a critical role in conservation and must be adequately equipped to deal with the physical and mental demands of the job.

Inspiration Inc’s grant will contribute to the initial launch of the program and training of four Ranger teams who will be responsible for the removal and reporting of snares, intervention of excessive tree felling, and community sensitisation to the programme, its goals and methods.

Grant awarded to support the expansion of a community honey project inside the 15,000 acre Alarachi Cloud-Forest Reserve located in southern Bolivia, in partnership with Padcaya community members and local NGO PROMETA. Meliponiculture – the cultivation and care of native ‘stingless’ bees – is not only a new form of income generation for the 3,000-strong Padcaya community that lives from the forest, but also benefits the environment through pollination and contributes to the regeneration of forests and biodiversity.

Due to low operating costs, beekeeping makes for an ideal supplement to household incomes for the Padcaya. The honey produced in this ancient virgin forest is of particularly high quality and purity because the bees can feed on rich exotic plant resources, free of any pesticides for thousands of miles.

This project aligns with our view that the only way to reduce pressure on the environment sustainably is to economic community-based alternatives that promote and revalue nature. Meliponiculture helps conserve biodiversity and mitigate climate change, while increasing the value of the forest which in turn helps prevent deforestation. In addition, beekeeping strengthens food sovereignty, which is the right that peoples have to choose what to produce and to consume; it creates identity, since it boosts the production systems that form part of the cultural heritage; and promotes a sense of belonging and attachment to the land.

Inspiration Inc’s grant will fund the expansion of the current base of 25 hives to 100 and the provision of skills training to local community members, as well as support for bringing the honey to local markets.

Investment in DOT Glasses.

DOT is a for-profit social impact venture that is dedicated to providing ultra low-cost vision correction to the 1 billion people who need glasses but can’t afford them.

Without eyeglasses, people simply cannot learn, earn, or feel safe. The potential lost productivity resulting from so many people without access to glasses is estimated to currently cost the global economy an estimated USD 250 billion.

At the moment, DOT is active in 6 countries in Africa. Their innovative training a distribution methodology, coupled with strong partnerships on the ground, mean that they have the potential to scale globally and make a huge impact on the world.

DOT Glasses also directly influence 6 of the United Nations SDGs including: increasing productivity and revenues for low-income people; improving children’s school performance and adult literacy; 60% of customers are women and girls; promoting work and economic growth through their micro-franchises; promoting good health and wellbeing; and because 100% of their customers come from the poorest socio-economic group/’base of pyramid’.

City Girl in Nature was created by a young woman who had a profound experience with nature on a British Exploring Society expedition to the Peruvian Amazon. Growing up in a deprived and inner-city area of London, England, she faced several challenges, which caused a her a great deal of trauma. The impact of the expedition, the experience of being so close to raw nature and the opportunity to create lifelong bonds with other young people whilst camping during the expedition, provided her with an extraordinary amount of healing—healing which later translated into a new role for her as a nature activist and advocate for young people across England. You can learn more about her work here: http://citygirlinnature.com/

Inspiration Incubator is supporting City Girl in Nature by funding camp experiences that she has personally designed to bring inner-city young people into nature. These camps are designed to awaken curiosity, build personal resilience and cultivate caring relationships with self, community, and the natural world.